Buzz Up My Hive 

Duration: 

 6-8 hour periods

Objectives:

LANGUAGE ARTS

 w The student constructs meaning from a variety of texts.

 w The student reads instructions, stories, information texts, captions, 
     responses.

 w The student writes on given topics both narrative and expository.

 w The student participates in all steps of the writing process individually 
     and with a group.

 w The student uses technology in the production of writing.

 w The student uses technology resources to find information and to 
     present findings.

SCIENCE

 w The student understands the physical characteristics of a bee and its 
     classification.

 w The student understands that living things reproduce.

 w The student understands that animals live in a particular habitat.

SOCIAL STUDIES

 w   The student understands that cooperation and effort are needed in 
       the world of work.

Vocabulary:  

arthropod, apis, queen, drone, worker, abdomen, head, thorax, 
stinger, pollen basket, hive, comb   

Online Glossaries: Sue Bee Glossary

                                        Honey 

Materials:

 w  Prior to lesson have a bulletin board prepared with (4x4) hexagons  
     made out of construction paper resembling a honeycomb.

 w  post-it-notes

 w  Computers with internet availability, printer, scanner, digital camera

 w  Books and other Resources

 w  Software:  Resources

 w  Websites:   Resources

 w  Television and VCR

Activities:

1. Students discuss how they feel about bees. (like them, are frightened, excited, etc.)

2. Do a K-W-L with the class to build prior knowledge and have students write down things they would like to know about bees on post-it-notes.

3. Students will post their notes on each of the hexagons on the bulletin board. (As the students find answers to their questions doing research they will replace the post-it-notes with a typed written answer to fit the hexagon.  At the end of the unit the Bulletin Board will "bee" a wall of factual information found by students.)

4. The students will begin a Bee Portfolio in which they will place all the completed work they do during this unit. 

5. Hand out each student a Cyber Bee Hunt sheet and go over all of the assignments.

   Note: For best results you may want to bookmark the websites for the students before they begin.

6. Divide students into three or four groups.  This will enable the students to use different centers if you do not have computers for each individual and do different activities. Rotate the groups so that they get to visit all centers.  

Any work done at a center will become part of their portfolio.

CENTERS:

      a. One group will use the computers for the Cyber Bee Hunt.

          Answer questions asked in Cyber Bee Hunt.

      b. One group will watch  videos on television and take notes.  See 
Resources. Answer questions asked in Cyber Bee Hunt

      c. One group will do research at the reading center.  See Resources

          Answer questions asked in Cyber Bee Hunt

      d. One group will work on hands-on activities.   Busy Bees Activities 

7.  Students will do a group presentation on the bee using KidPix or 
      HyperStudio. 

      The presentation will include:

         w   Anatomy of the bee

         w   Bee's Life Stages

         w   Colony

         w   Beehive

         w   Communication

         w   Defense

     To get directions on how to do a multimedia presentation visit TeachNet- Weather Watchers. Enjoy the site.

Assessment: Click on the underline words to see an example

       a. Outline of a bee labeled with body parts

       b. Explanation and pictures telling about the bee's Life Cycle

       c. Bee chart showing  the different bees and their functions table

       d. Written description of the hive.

       e. A diagram showing how bees communicate with a caption 
            explaining the diagram.

       f.  Table showing history of honey uses

       g. Written paragraph explaining how people cooperate in the work 
            field.

       h.  Completed paragraph from Honey Facts

       i. Oral group presentation using KidPix  

       j. Written paragraph explaining how people have different roles as 
          they are growing up, just like bees. 

Home Learning:

    a.    Write a poem about a busy bee.

    b.    Create a questionnaire on bees.  Do a survey to see how much 
            people know about bees. 

    c.    Go to the library and do further study on bees using reference 
           books.

Extension:

   a.   Go to this site and ask Tim and Bob questions you have about 
         bees.   

         Check for their response and type answer for honeycomb bulletin 
         board. Brain Pop Insects  

   b.    The Adventures of Binx. Read the story and find out the different 
           jobs of a worker bee. Write to tell how people have different roles 
          as they are growing up just like bees. 

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